Caught In It

Writers: Chelle
Date Posted: 1st February 2016

Characters: Relik
Description: The hurricane hits.
Location: Seacraft Hall
Date: month 4, day 12 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: Kaphrad; control for hurricane plot

They were all indoors, hunkered down. The threadfall doors and heavy
shutters were in place to protect the glass. Some of the seafolk had
evacuated inland days before when the dolphins had warned of weather. The
more hearty seafolk had stayed behind. Some played dragonpoker. Others sat
studying charts and writing. Still others sat in circles and chatted, eating
when it was mealtime. Some of the men had taken to carving wood or
performing some other hobby to pass the time. Early on, the winds started.
Then the rain could be heard pelting the walls. It sounded like one of
Kaphrad's engines out there. Relik had heard it all before. Indeed, he had
sailed around the edge of one before. Still, this one was loud. Things got
worse. And then, finally, it was calm.

Any real seaman worth their salt would know that didn't mean it was over.
They were in the eye. And that was frightening. Being in the middle of the
storm meant they were going to get the worst of the bands. Relik could only
imagine what was going on out there. Still, the old Hallmaster reassured his
people. As the time went on, the noise started up again and he knew if they
could last a few more candlemarks, then it would be past. Some people
started to nap on cots.

There was a loud crash, but it was hard to say what it was from. They couldn't
go outside to look now. Several of the men who had firelizards made sure to
keep the flighty creatures quiet. Some of them sent them to family members
elsewhere to let them know they were still alive. Someone was screaming in
the kitchens. And then they were running through to the main hall. All Relik
heard was "The roof is going!"

Then the kitchen staff ran into the main hall. They watched helplessly as
the room that held their remaining foodstuffs as well as much needed
supplies and equipment was upended. Things were airborne and the shout came
for people to take cover. And then rain was blowing into the room. Relik
heard some loud creaks. **Faranth, please let us be safe. Keep us and guide
us through the storm.** He started to mumble, hoping no one caught him. Some
saw, and began to copy him. Many of the old ones had been through heavy
storms, but this was something else.

"Take cover!" was the shouted command from the Hallmaster who stood in the
corridor himself, listening and watching. They still had some time to go.
Wind blew in from the openings to the kitchen that was now ruined. There
were a few women left and the men ran to protect them. Their frightened
cries could be heard. Not all of them had left. Some had chosen to stay with
their men. And now they didn't know if they were going down with the ship.
His mind was uneasy. Was this one of those auspicious moments? His Hall was
still so new and now it was coming under attack from nature. Not a good
thing at all. He knew better than to think about whether or not it was fair.
Life was never fair.

So all he could do was get the people to come together in the middle of the
room under the tables. The noise kept on and on and on. They could hear
banging. They could hear the wind blowing. The rain pelted the roof. And
there was water all over the floor in the kitchen. Pretty soon it would
creep into the main hall. People eyed the opening, watching it.

Not until a long while later did they hear the noise stop. The rain finally
stopped too. Relik was afraid to venture out to inspect everything-not knowing
what he would find. Was anything still there?

Last updated on the February 9th 2016

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Caught In It